PBA Holds Contract Protest At "National Night Out Against
Crime"

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was heckled by police officers on the very
same night he stepped out to offer them praise.

A group of NYPD officers looking for a new contract continued their
floating protests during Tuesday’s "National Night Out
Against Crime," chanting, “No contract, no convention!
No contract, no convention!” at an event attended by Bloomberg.

The protesting officers, members of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent
Association who have been working without a contract since July
2002, say the mayor should save the praise and give them a raise
instead. They also told the mayor to get used to the protests, saying
they will be everywhere, including during the Republican National
Convention at the end of the month.

“These guys deserve more. He praises them tonight, he tells
them what a great job they did on crime, bringing down city crime,
and what does he offer us? A zero,” said protestor Drew Bailey.
“That's a disgrace. They can't live on that. They're the lowest
paid police department in the surrounding area.”

At last night's event, Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly
praised the NYPD, and boasted about New York being one of the safest
big cities in the world.